SFGate

judyg Oh boy! I see a tansu. Love it. Can't help with anything but extra heavy duty lining on the fabric panels; replacing the doors with ones designed for noise reduction. Someone will come up with something for you, but I just had to comment on the tansu.

decoenthusiaste You may have to start outside on the fence if someone knows about a sound dampening item that you could use to start breaking down the sound from outside. I know there has to be something not too industrial that would work. Fabrics do help, so you could install a crank out awning that would shade and perhaps muffle some sound. A permanant installatiion with draping fabric to close it off would also cut back on noise levels. New insulated doors and windows would be the most pricey solution, but may be worth it. Heavily lined and insulated drapes will help when you want them closed. Earplugs at night - is use them when weather permits opening windows. I live in the country and the night sounds - bugs, frogs, coyotes and night birds - can drive you batty - bats too, but can't hear them well! A white noise machine to help you sleep is a good option, or a sound machine like a creek flowing or ocean waves helps some people sleep and might be nice in the daytime living area too.

Lanie Brown You'd be amazed what landscaping does to absorb street noise.

whiskeyrobot if your existing doors are single pane glass wood doors, one of the biggest improvements you can do is replace them with an insulated (fiber glass/steel) door with double or even triple pane glass, as well as improving any weather stripping around the seal of the door.

Le Java Woodwork if you dont mind changing your door, you can get aluminum repro french style doors, with double glass window. they cost quite abit but its very good sound insulation and heat insulation.

dragonsought Less expensive is to add a double pane to each window pane and weather strip the door.

SILVERLINE CONSTRUCTION Visit this web site www.tmsoundproofing.com/ they have gereat door soundproofing products.

Interior Expressions/ Nardelli Home Decor http://www.hunterdouglas.com/our-products-detail.jsp?id=53#/PG/
Here is a product from Hunter Douglas Achitella double cell shade, they are light filtering and can be mounted on each door. They stack pretty high so when opened you still have full view. We use them in the city to reduce noise they do have acoustical valve and energy rating. They are on promo buy4 save 100.00 HunterDouglas.com you can find local dealers.

Anne Gibney Redirecting your attention to another sound that is closer to your living space, such as a small fountain or a soothing sound machine can help with minimal cost and construction.

nina47 Double glazing would not only reduce the noise but lower heating costs too.

edgedale With a neighbor who is in love with her leaf blower and anything else run buy a gas engine - no brooms over there! I looked into sound dampening landscaping but it seems that at best landscaping helps only 5-10%, mostly it's psychological. Anyway, for historical places where windows can't be replaced apparently installing acrylic panels, inside as a second pane, have a good effect. Caulking & weatherstripping too.

ubettpar Have impact resistant glass installed in your existing door.

ardee2017 I concur, best method is landscaping, it is what I used and I am near freeway.

karelina I'm not sure, but I don't think you have a sound-deadening fence outside. That's what the highways use when they build in residential areas, so it might be worth checking out.

judith195 My older home has some double glazing replacing the old single pane windows and it did make a lot of difference in the noise level. On the back door there is a stained glass panel (red rose) which we simply removed the trim and installed a plexiglass piece cut to fit over the top and replaced the trim. This has worked very well for keeping drafts out. Wish I had your doors in my bedroom!

mona1964 we live on a main road and had 50year old plus rusted steel windows --replaced them with pvc (which gets a bad rap i know) with double glazing and it works a treat--both in terms of noise but also heat/cooling retention -- i have left a lot of windows bare as we love light and privacy not a issue, and the others i have mainly used plantation shutters as windows are in keeping with what was there so are quite big. I love wooden windows but sun harsh and they only look good for first year with lots of maintenance that no one does...

Custom Home Planning Center On the structural approch to your problem glue 1 1/2 inch foam board to the interior of the existing outside wall with a 2 x 2 in the corner and a 2 x 3 flat way around the door 1" back from the existing jam. Then add an extension box to the duplex on the right of the door and glue 1/2 gypsum board to the foam. (assumes you have removed the original trim) You should leave the board 1" back from the
jam. A 1 x 3 can now be added to the jam to cover the gypsum board end and the 2 x 3. You can then add the trim back on. (you can use a 3 1/2" trim screw in the middle of the base run in order to reach the original plate. Do not let it pull too tight. You now also have space to add two, two panel interior shutters to the door jam. These should be solid wood or foam core Masonite bi fold doors that work like the example shown.

Custom Home Planning Center The combination should solve your problem.

pivoines The double pane with e-gas works wonders, just replace the panes, also, if you make up your mind to accept the noise as a permanent effect of the house it will become a non issue after a while, we were moved by transfer every 4 yrs or so , and , We had to live with sounds that seemed terrible (airplane route,fire station etc..) but if you accept it and ignore it, it will stop bothering you and it will take a reminder from a visitor to realize it is still there. Trust me, I know. Sounds silly , but it does work.Good luck.

Gray & Walter, Ltd. Insulated double pane glass combined with weather stripping will help a lot. Lining and interlining your draperies is always effective. Good luck!

av8ricks You can replace the glass in the doors with laminated glass. It is often done in houses near airports for noise abatement. Combined with some of the other suggestions, you should be able to get some peace and quiet. good luck!

carol j. guess & associates, inc humm lots of good suggestions..does conclude with what one wants to invest. I would use KIS method..new see thru vertical blinds (I love open windows for the light) draw behind the the panesl that would need to be relined with insulated lining. now you have covered all you bases- sound-light-insulation. and saved enough to enjoy your room!! all the best carol guess

A & D Glass Inc. av8ricks that was going to be my suggestion as well! Insulated glass may be too thick to install into the existing doors; trying to create your own insulated glass will result in dirt and fogging between the panes. Laminated glass is used in sound booths, etc., is safety rated, and thin enough to avoid reworking the wood stops. Call a glass company and have them come assess the situation for you.

Media Decor Hurricane rated glass will reduce noise substantially. But you might have to replace the doors.

middleofnowhere I lived next to a busy freeway for 12 years. With the double-pane windows closed it wasn't so bad. Also, you do get used to the noise, over time. Really. It's like a "white noise" machine, except for the occasional rumble of a big truck. Don't expect plants on the patio to dampen noise. People always say they do, but they actually don't. I looked into it.

Lynne F You are so right on all points.. We have finally decided to install laminated (like bullet proof) glass. Keep you posted...